Lighting fixture



Nov. 1', 1927.

J. WILLIAMSON LIGHTING mxmmn Filed July 31, 1924 Patented Nov. 1, 1927.

UNITED STATES JAMES WILLIAMSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LIGHTING FIXTURE.

Application filed July 31,

This invention relates to a novel and improved lighting fixture and has for its principal object to provide a means for support ing a lamp socket in such a way that it may be easily placed in position for use and removed therefrom without the use of tools.

A further object is to provide a light socket of unitary construction which will perform all the functions performed by sockets now in use, but which will comprise fewer parts and will be much simpler in construction.

A still further object is to provide a light socket supported entirely by a. socket cover, and insuch a manner that itwill be possible to remove the socket'without the use of tools.

In the drawings, in which I have shown a selected embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 1 is an elevation partly in section of my invention as applied to the arm of a light fixture.

Fig. 2 is an elevation of my invention showing the socket being applied to or removed from the socket cover.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a socket cover showing an alternative means of attachment to the socket, and

Fig. 4; is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of my improved socket.

Referring now to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates an arm of aconventional lighting fixture terminating in a threaded stem 2. Near the end of the arm is provided the boss 3 to limit the movement of a socket cover 4i along said arm. Socket covers are usually placed over the threaded stem of an arm and secured in place by engagement with said threaded stem of the cap which forms a part of the socket now generally used. This cap is provided with recesses to receive corrugations and struck-out lugs upon a metallicshell, which embraces and holds the two-part cylindrical member com mercially known as the gut and which member carries the switch for controlling the circuit to the lamp. This member carries with it a threaded shell of conducting material to receive the threaded base of a lamp and is insulated from the outer shell by means of a sheet of insulating material. The above described construction is well known in the art and is the one which is now most widely used commercially. It is, however, open to certain objections. Detachment of the cap from the shell is usually performed by pressing upon the shell at a certain point,

1924. Serial No. 729,291.

but when the socket is employed inside of p the socket cover, such as illustrated in this application, it is necessary to exert this pressure through a suitable tool, such as a screw driver, and even when the socket is not used inside of the socket cover a tool is often necessary to release the shell from the cap.

In order to best illustrate the advantages of my invention I have shown it as embodied in a fixture of the type which employs a socket cover supported on the end of an arm, but it will be understood that it is by no means limited to employment in such a location. 1

Referring particularly to Fig. 4, the cylindrical member 5 corresponds to corresponding part of the standard fixture and carries the switch mechanism and contact members which are well known in the art. This member is attached by any suitable means to a second member 6 comprising a hollow cylindrical member 7 and a flange 8.- The mem her 6 is preferably formed of one piece of insulating material'such as a phenol condensation product, and carries the usual contact member 9 and a threaded metallic shell 10 to receive the base ofa lamp. It is to be understood that the members 9 and 10 are connected by suitable electrical conductors to the switch mechanism in the upper member 5 of the socket, which. in this embodiment, I have shown as controlled by the usual switch key 11. The flange 8 is provided with a pluralityof recesses 12 which may be conveniently formed therein when the member 6 is cast, and in these recesses I dispose pins 13 normally urged outwardly by springs 14 and held in placeby any suitable means 15.

The structure just described constitutes my complete socket, and it will be noted that I have done away with the usual cap and outer shell which are employed with the conventional socket now on the market, and which I have referred to above. When it is desired to apply my socket to a socket cover or the like. I first insert the socket partially within the cover as shown in Fig.2, placing the switch'key 11 through a suitably elongated opening 16 therein and then the socket may be inserted further into the cover and brought to the position shown in Fig. 1 with the pins 13 passing through suitable apertures 17 in the wall of the cover. It will be noted that the flange 8 has its edge beveled to form a tight fit with the inner wall of the cover, and when the pins 13 have entered the apertures 17 the socket is securely held in position within the cover. The ends of the pins 13 are rounded oif and are formed of the same material as the cover, whereby they will present a pleasing appearance and will not be objectionably conspicuous.

Of course it is to be understood that previous to the socket being put in position within the cover it is connected to the usual wires 18, which will be of sufficient length,

to permit attachment to the socket before it is inserted within the cover, as is common practice. To hold the cover upon the arm 1 or other fixture I provide a lock nut 19 to engage the usual threaded stem 2 on the arm 1, the stem passing through the usual opening 20 in the upper part of the cover.

In Fig. 3 I have shown an alternative means of supporting the socket from the socket cover. In this embodiment I provide the flange 8 with threaded recesses 21 to receive screws 22. This means may be used to advantage if preferred to the spring-pressed pins 13, although of course the pins will furnish a much more ready means of attachment and detachment.

From the above it will be seen that I have devised a novel and improved lighting fixture comprising a socket which is made of fewer parts than the socket now used commercially, and which may be readily applied to and detached from a socket cover or the like without the troubles which are attendant upon such operations with the said commercial socket. IVhen the socket is detached, the socket cover still remains in place, being held there by lock nut 19, whereas when the commercial socket is removed the cover has to be removed also. Not only is there a great saving of labor in renewing sockets,

but there is also a great saving of labor in connection with their original installation. All that is necessary is to place the socket cover in position, fasten it there by means of the nut 19, make the electrical connections and snap the socket in place. This advan-.

applied to a. certain type of fixture, I do no't desire to be limited to that particular type, and in the appended claims I shall use the term socket cover to describe any element designed to receive a socket.

I am aware that changes in the form, construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and without sacrificing the advantages of the invention and I reserve the right to make all such changes as fairly fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A lighting fixture comprising a socket cover having openings therein, a cylindrical socket member provided with means to receive and support a lamp, an annular flange formed on said member to snugly engage said cover and to space the member therefrom, pins mounted in said flange and adapt ed to engage the openings in said cover, springs mounted in said flange for urging the pins outwardly and means arranged in said flange for retaining said pins in said flange.

2. A lighting fixture comprising a socket cover having a slot therein for receiving a switch key, a cylindrical socket member provided with means to receive and support a lamp, an annular flange formed on said member to snugly engage said cover and to space the member therefrom, said cover having circular openings therein, means engaging said flange and adapted to pass through said openings for securing the cover in place, and a switch key connected to said member and engaging said slot for controlling a source of electric current.

' I JAMES IVILLIAMSON. 

